U.S. forces may referee rival Afghani factions

Published: Monday, February 25, 2002

Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Worried that renegade warlords could plunge Afghanistan into civil war once again, the United States may send military advisers to act as referees between rival factions, the U.S. special envoy said Sunday.

The idea appeared aimed at finding a way to stem factional fighting without expanding the U.S. military presence or diverting troops from hunting Taliban and al-Qaida fugitives.

"We are worried about the multiple armies," envoy Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters. "There is a danger of multiple armies going to war."

Khalilzad said the best way to curb the problem would be to establish a well trained Afghan national army, an effort that is expected to take many months and could also be challenged by powerful local leaders and their militias.

In the meantime, "military advisers could be put in areas where there is the danger of potential conflict among forces or armies that exist in order to deter and discourage a return to conflict," Khalilzad said.

"Or, where we have special forces in place, those forces could be given this additional mission of advising, with regard to a discouragement of a return to conflict," he added.

The goal is to keep these militias apart until a national army can be established, Khalilzad said  a difficult task because warlords who hold sway across much of the countryside outside Kabul may be reluctant to turn over their armed men.

"The major overall challenge is how to stay away from returning to war, another challenge is security," the U.S. envoy said.